2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. James 1:2-4
A pastor was once in downtown Cincinnati when a man came up and asked him for a drink. He specifically asked for a “pop” or soda; the minister used this opportunity to teach his students that the man thought he wanted soda to drink, but what his body was really craving was water. He really wanted water, but he didn't know it.
Since the garden of Eden, we have been separated from the Lord. Adam and Eve deliberately sinned, and our nature is such that we deliberately fall away from God. We don’t wish to follow Him.
Yet, our social experiment of living life without God is an ABSOLUTE FAILURE! We are always in “want”; we are always craving something. Why are there so many who love something more than God be it their job, family, sex, drugs, music, or even innocuous things like relationships or friendships? Because they are craving God but don’t know it.
Even born again Christians are going back to the dirty waters of sin hoping to find lasting satisfaction; we want a quick fix for our life. We want to be forgiven and just live happily ever after. But the truth is, the temptations and trials that cause us difficulties are there to help us to we rely more and more on Christ and then we can say we are “wanting nothing”. With Christ, there are no endless cravings and nothing else in creation can satisfy us like He does. As we fill our spiritual cup with His friendship, we realize that being being entire and wanting nothing is the perfect work of maturity.
Crying out to God when we are saved is just the beginning; as Christians, we must cry out to Him daily and seek His face. Let the Scriptures fill your mind and heart; soon you will see that the things this world has to offer is a garbage can compared to what Christ gives us as we walk with God. To know Him, enjoy Him, and love Him is our aim; before we can do any sort of service for God - we must "get happy in Him!" How do we know when He has become our all in all? Simply because your heart proclaims in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs - "Jesus is enough".
Consider this Psalm:
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. Psalm 23:1-2.
If you are in the area or in need of a church home, please consider joining us this Sunday as we worship the Lord and continue in our studies of the epistle of James.
Yet, our social experiment of living life without God is an ABSOLUTE FAILURE! We are always in “want”; we are always craving something. Why are there so many who love something more than God be it their job, family, sex, drugs, music, or even innocuous things like relationships or friendships? Because they are craving God but don’t know it.
Even born again Christians are going back to the dirty waters of sin hoping to find lasting satisfaction; we want a quick fix for our life. We want to be forgiven and just live happily ever after. But the truth is, the temptations and trials that cause us difficulties are there to help us to we rely more and more on Christ and then we can say we are “wanting nothing”. With Christ, there are no endless cravings and nothing else in creation can satisfy us like He does. As we fill our spiritual cup with His friendship, we realize that being being entire and wanting nothing is the perfect work of maturity.
Crying out to God when we are saved is just the beginning; as Christians, we must cry out to Him daily and seek His face. Let the Scriptures fill your mind and heart; soon you will see that the things this world has to offer is a garbage can compared to what Christ gives us as we walk with God. To know Him, enjoy Him, and love Him is our aim; before we can do any sort of service for God - we must "get happy in Him!" How do we know when He has become our all in all? Simply because your heart proclaims in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs - "Jesus is enough".
Consider this Psalm:
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. Psalm 23:1-2.
If you are in the area or in need of a church home, please consider joining us this Sunday as we worship the Lord and continue in our studies of the epistle of James.
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